All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 conference dives deep into key topics for CIOs — including agentic AI, AI governance, IT, cost optimization, emerging technologies and more — to help you address your organization’s mission-critical challenges.

2026 Conference Theme

Ignite Intelligence

AI is no longer a differentiator — it’s now part of the foundation. CIOs must take the artificial out of intelligence, combining human ingenuity with AI to unlock value, drive agility and navigate disruption. A human-centered approach is key to leading the intelligent enterprise. 

Explore our conference sessions below, all developed with this theme in mind.

Hear from a long-term Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo attendee on why he keeps coming back.
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Filter to see sessions that align with your role and interests. After registering for the conference, craft your agenda and book priority sessions — all through Gartner Conference Navigator.

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Monday, October 19, 2026

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

The CIO 2027 Cybersecurity Radar
Leigh McMullen, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Gartner's annual cybersecurity radar for CIOs; we examine the hottest trends and emerging threats for cybersecurity to give you the just in time insight you need for your agenda for cybersecurity for the coming year. ... Show More Show Less

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Ask the Analyst: Using AI to Close the Talent and Capability Gap in Security (Exclusive to Midsize Enterprise Program)
Patrick Long, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner
Midsize organizations face challenges in structuring a fit-for-purpose cybersecurity function due to lean teams and are increasingly leveraging AI tools to address talent and capability gaps. Bring your questions on organizing cybersecurity teams, such as: Where can AI impact cybersecurity? Should we invest in integrated AI or agentic AI? How do these technologies impact security talent? ... Show More Show Less

02:45 PM - 03:30 PM EDT

Roundtable: Is Your AI Working as a Whitehat or Blackhat?
Are your AI tools reinforcing ethical practices, or inadvertently introducing risk and misuse? For this lightly facilitated discussion, come prepared to consider issues such as data privacy, bias, compliance and how AI decisions are monitored and governed within organizations. How are your peers implementing strong guardrails, transparency and accountability to ensure AI operates as a trusted, responsible asset? ... Show More Show Less
Tuesday, October 20, 2026

12:30 PM - 01:00 PM EDT

Preparing for the Postquantum Era: A Strategic Roadmap for CIOs
Thomas Lintemuth, VP Analyst, Gartner
Postquantum cryptography is one of the most important issues facing organizations that utilize public transport communication conduits, such as the internet, to transmit sensitive data. This could include credit card numbers, PII or GDPR-monitored items. As current encryption algorithms will be broken, attendees will learn how to address this issue both from a holistic perspective and as an operational opportunity. ... Show More Show Less
Wednesday, October 21, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM EDT

Ask the Analyst: Regain Control on "Coworking" AI Agents: Opportunities vs. Risk
Dan Wilson, VP Analyst, Gartner
The market for on-device or "coworking" agentic AI solutions is rapidly evolving with seemingly limitless potential. But few are directly comparable and all introduce significant risks if undiscovered and ungoverned. Join this session as we discuss how to explain similarities and differences, key risks to consider, the options that work with specific data sources and how to think about auditability and monitoring for these coworking agents. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 03:00 PM EDT

Ask the Expert: The CIO's Role in Disinformation Security
Dave Aron, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Most businesses are not prepared for the flood of disinformation coming our way. The CIO has an opportunity to take the lead, but must engage cross-functionally. Join this discussion to address your top questions around how disinformation threatens enterprises, how to defend against it, what role CIOs play in this, and what are the best practices and things to be avoided. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 03:00 PM EDT

Roundtable: Is Your AI Working as a Whitehat or Blackhat? (Repeat)
Are your AI tools reinforcing ethical practices, or inadvertently introducing risk and misuse? For this lightly facilitated discussion, come prepared to consider issues such as data privacy, bias, compliance and how AI decisions are monitored and governed within organizations. How are your peers implementing strong guardrails, transparency and accountability to ensure AI operates as a trusted, responsible asset? ... Show More Show Less

04:15 PM - 04:45 PM EDT

Top Cybersecurity Predictions for 2026
Christopher Mixter, VP Analyst, Gartner
Change is the only constant in cybersecurity. This session examines the future of cybersecurity, identifying and explaining Gartner's top cybersecurity predictions for the coming year. Show Less

05:15 PM - 05:45 PM EDT

Government: Frontline AI Strategies to Mitigate Risk in Mission-Critical Operational Technologies
Jay Phipps, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
AI-augmented ZTNA offers government organizations a proactive, data-driven approach to cybersecurity. AI accelerates zero trust only if CIOs first secure the AI, otherwise AI becomes the fastest path around zero-trust controls. Successful adoption of AI in ZTNA hinges on understanding the visible benefits and hidden threats inherent in AI, robust data governance, phased deployment and skills development. ... Show More Show Less

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“It really helps you get away from the operational things you’re doing every day, and think about what’s next.”

JR Williamson
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Leidos

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